Switch device



P 1929. H. E. NORVIEL I v 1,727,034

SWITCH DEVICE I Filed Nov. 18, 1926 Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,727,034 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY E. NORVIEL, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO DELCO-REMY CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A GOREORATION OF DELAWARE.

SWITCH DEVICE.

Application filed November 18, 1926. Serial No. 149,113.

The present invention relates to improvenents in electric switches and more particularly to the type utilized for controlling stop signals carried at the rear of motor vehicles.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a switch of simple structure and design, which may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost and is thoroughly reliable in operation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of one form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the switch de-' vice;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the switch;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the resilient movable contact element of the switch.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 20 designates the switch housing provided with oppositely disposed feet 21 and 22, each provided with apertures for receiving screws adapted to secure the switch in any suitable location on the motor vehicle frame or chassis.

As shown in the Fig. 3 the housing 20 has a back wall 23 provided with apertures 24 and 25. The inside surface of wall 23 is lined with two insulating plates 26 and 27 held in position on said wall by means of a rivet 28. The stationary contact or terminal 29 extends through the aperture 24 in the back wall and through apertures formed in the insulating plates 26 and 27, the inner end of the contact being spun over a metal washer 3O lying on the interior surface of plate 26 whereby said contact is secured to said insulating plates. The contact 29 is provided with a longitudinal passage, screw-threaded as at 31 for receiving any suitable screw by means of which a current conducting wire may be secured thereto.

The numeral 32 designates a second terminal stud provided with a screw-threaded longitudinal passage 33 adapted to receive a screw for securing a wire thereto. The inner end of terminal stud 32 extends through aligned openings in the insulating plates 26 and 27 and also through an aperture formed in the shorter branch 34 of a J-shaped resilient contact member 35. The end of the stud 32 is spun over this branch to secure the said contact 35 to the insulating plate 26. An angular portion 36 formed on the end of the branch 34 extends into a small aperture formed in the insulating plate 26, thereby preventing the contact 35 from turning on the terminal stud 32. The J-shaped contact element 35 also includes a longer branch 37, the end of which is provided with a hump portion which lies in juxtaposition to the inner end of the terminal 29, said hump portion, however, being normally held out of engagement with Said terminal 29 due to the resiliency of the branch 37. In Figs. 2 and 5, the J-shaped contact is shown in front and back elevation respectively. The portion of the branch 37 adjacent the loop or rounded end of the J-shaped contact includes diverging branches 38 and 39 which converge beyond the loop or bend to form the portion 40 which is provided with an aperture for receiving the terminal stud 32. The diverging portions 38 and 39 provide a space 41 through which a tool may be inserted during the assembling of the switch for the purposes of spinning the edge of the terminal stud 32 over the contact portion 40, to secure said contact to the insulating plate 26. The diverging portions 38 and 39 also give the movable contact with greater resiliency while maintaining the ruggedness thereof.

Extending across the housing 20 and ournalled in the opposite walls 45 and 46 of said housing is a shaft 47 one end of which is provided with an enlarged head 48, slotted to receive a screw driver, the opposite end hav ing a reduced portion 49 on which is rigidly secured the operating lever 50.

Intermediate the ends of the shaft 47, a. cam shaped disc 51, preferably of insulating material, is secured to the shaft so as to rotate therewith. The resiliency of the branch 37 causes said branch to constantly engage the edge of the cam shaped disc 51. Said disc is secured to the shaft in such a manner, that when the lever 50 engages the foot 22, as shown in Fig. 3, the cam disc 51 will be in a position in which the branch 37 of the contact 35 will be out of engagement with its cooperating terminal 29. However whenthe lever 50 is moved away from the foot 22 or more specifically when said lever is operated to rotate the shaft 47 in a clockwise direction as regards Fig. 3, the cam 51 will move simultaneously with the operation of the lever to move the contact branch 87 toward its cooperating terminal 29. After the hump portion of the branch 37 engages the terminal 29, and upon continued clockwise movement of the cam 51, the pressure exerted by said cam upon the branch 37' will tend to flex it, such flexing causing the hump portion of the branch 37 to slide over the contact terminal 29, thereby rubbing off any corrosion caused by arcing.

Under ordinary circumstances the resiliency of the branch??? will tend to return the lever 50 to its normal position as shown in F 3 when the operating force on said lever 50 is released. lflowever to facilitate the return of this lever and to relieve branch 87 of unnecessary strain, a spring is )IOVlClCCl on the shaft 47. This sp"ing comprises coiled portions 55 and 56 about the shaft, on oppositc sides of the disc 51, said springs being connected by a loop portion 57 as shown in Fig. 2. The loop portion 57 rests in a notch 58 formed in the edge of the disc 51. The respective ends of the coiled portions 55 and 56 designated by the numerals 55 and 5t rest against a back wall 23 of the housing. l v hen the cam is operated in a clockwise direction as regards Fig. 3, the loop 57 of the spring me1nbers55 and 56 will also be moved in a clockwise direction thus tending to tension the spring, The slotted head 48 is provided onthe shaft 47 for receiving a screw driver, by means of which the spring members 55 and 56 may be initially tensioned before the lever 50 is placed upon and riveted on said shaft. This is necessary because the lever 50 engages with the foot 22 when it is operated a determined distance in either direction.

From this it can be seen that the present invention provides a comparatively simple, rugged and compact switch which can be manufactured at a substantially low cost and due to the design of its various parts may be quickly and easily assembled.

Vfhile the form of embodiment of the pres ent invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a housing including normally open contact members, one of them being a resilient metal contact blade fixed adjacent one end; a lever operated shaft in said housing; a spring for resisting movement of the shaft in one direction; a cam on said shaft, constantly engaged by one of said contacts and adapted to operate the same concurrently with the operation of the shaft, first to move said contact into engagement with its eooperating contact member and then during continued operation of the shaft, to maintain a sliding engagement between the contacts.

2. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a housing; normally open circuit controlling contacts in said housing, one of which is resilient and movable into engagement with the other; a rotatable shaft jour nalled in the housing; a cam keyed to said shaft and constantly engaged by the resilient, movable contact; and a spring on said shaft normally holding the cam in contact open position, said spring including ortions coiled-about the shaft on each side of the cam and connected by a loop which is received by a slot in said cam, the coiled portions of the spring having their respective ends engaging a wall of the housing. 1

3. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a housing; a stationary contact in said housing; a J-shaped movable contact, one end of which is insulatingly anchored in the housing, the free end of said contact normally lying in juxtaposition to the stationary contact; a rotatable shaft journalled in opposite walls of the housing, having both ends extending therethrough, one of which has a lever secured thereto for operating the shaft; a cam on said shaft, in constant engagement with the free end of the l-shaped contact, said cam moving the contact end, at the instant of shaft operation, to engage the stationary contact, continued operation of said cam moving the said free end of the one contact relative to the other while maintaining electrical engagement therebetween; and a spring for resisting the operation of the shaft toward contact closing position.

4. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a housing; normally open, circuit controlling contacts in said housing, one of said contacts comprising a resilient looped lever, one end of which is insulatingly anchored to the housing, the free end normally lying in juxtaposition to the cooperating contact; a rotatable shaft journalled in said housing; a non-conducting cam keyed to said shaft, constantly engaged by the free end of the resilient, looped lever, said disc being constructed and arranged to move the said lever toward the cooperating contact simultaneously with the operation of the shaft; a lever on the shaft for operating it; and a coil spring for resisting the operation of the said shaft. said spring comprising portions coiled about said shaft on each side of the non-conducting cam, said coils having a connecting loop to which said cam is anchored, the end of the coiled portion engaging a housing wall whereby the spring will exert a force on said" cam tending to resist rotation of the shaft to contact closing position.

5. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a resilient metal contact blade fixed adjacent one end, a contact located to be engaged by the free end of the blade when flexed, and a rotatable cam having portions which respectively engage the blade adjacent its free end and between its ends as the cam is rotated into circuit closing position in order that the switch will be closed by a relatively slight movement of the cam and further movement of the cam will cause the blade to be bowed substantially so that the end portion of the blade will slide across the other contact.

6. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a resilient metal contact blade which is J-shaped in edge contour and has its shorter leg fixed, a contact located to be engaged by the free end of the blade when flexed, and a rotatable cam having portions which respectively engage the blade adjacent its free end and between its ends as the cam is rotated into circuit closing position in order that the switch will be closed by a relatively slight movement of the cam and further movement of the cam will cause the blade to be bowed substantially so that the end port-ion of the blade will slide across the other contact.

7. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a resilient metal contact blade which is J-shaped in edge contour and has its shorter leg fixed, and a member for engaging the longer leg of the blade for moving the free end of the blade into engagement with the stationary contact and for bowing the blade substantially between the free end thereof and the loop portion of the blade.

8. An electric switch comprising, in combination, a resilient metal contact blade which is J-shaped in edge contour and has its shorter leg fixed and joined to the longer leg by spaced loop portions, a stationary contact located to be engaged by the longer leg, a non-conducting support, a rivet for securing the shorter leg of the contact blade to the support and comprising a rivet, one end of which is accessible through the opening between the spaced loop portions of the blade, and means for bending the blade into contact with the stationary contact, the blade being reinforced at its loop by the presence of two loop portions.

9. An electric switch comprising, in combination, cooperating contacts, means for effecting engagement of the contacts comprising a rotatable shaft and a cam connected with the shaft for rotation therewith, a housing for enclosing the contacts and cam and providing in its Walls bearings for the shaft, means for limiting axial movement of the shaft, and means for limiting movement of the cam along the shaft and for resisting rotation of the shaft and comprising a spring having two helical coils located respectively on opposite sides of the cam and joined by a portion which is interconnected with the cam.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL. 

